Page 170 of Bratva Jewels Box Set
“She didn’t talk to me all the way home,” I complain to Sergei.
“The fact you thought that was going to end any other way surprises me. We just kidnapped her again.”
“I know,” I say, raking my fingers through my hair. “And she had contacted her family. She said they were on their way.”
“Smart girl.” Sergei smiles.
“I stole her again from her family. I’m the fucking monster here.”
“The only monster here is Dmitri. Grace can’t be out there without protection, Max. Not with him still on the loose.”
“Should I give her back to her family?”
Sergei raises a brow at me.
“Maybe I should talk to them.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“It’s a risk. We would have to secure the line. I need to explain to them that she is safer with me not them for the time being.”
“Have you explained that to Grace?” Sergei questions me.
“Not yet. She didn’t want to speak to me.”
“She might if you explain to her your reasons instead of waving a gun in her face again and dragging her back to your lair.”
“You waved a gun in her face, too,” I bite back which makes the old man chuckle.
“Guess the only way to get her to forgive you is to give her, her family.”
He’s right. It’s the one thing she has said all along that she wants. I just know that if there was a time for her to choose between her family or me, I wouldn’t be first choice.
“It’s been a hell of a day. Get some rest. Everything will look better in the morning,” he says, clapping me on the back before disappearing from the room.
I make the long walk back toward my bedroom, drifting to where Grace’s door is closed next to mine. My hand itches to knock on her door, but Sergei’s right, everything will look better in the morning. Walking into my bedroom, I kick my shoes to the side and toe-off my socks. I need a fucking shower, wash this hell of a day off me. Making my way to the bathroom, I turn the shower on and test the water until the temperature is right before shedding my clothes. The hot water hits my aching body, my exhausted muscles, and my racing mind. I’m careful of my wound, trying to keep it dry. I let the water run over my back as I press my forehead against the tiles. My mind races through today’s events and how I could have handled things differently. There were so many things I could have done that wouldn’t have made Grace want to escape. It’s been a couple of months since the last escape attempt, and she’s had plenty of opportunity.She was escaping you.That’s the hard realization that I’m coming to. She was running from me. From the horrible words I spewed at her. From my poor treatment of her. This woman has suffered so much at the hands of men, and I’ve gone and fucking added to her trauma. My fist hits the tiled wall in frustration. All becauseof hurt ego and the inability to be honest with your feelings. How the fuck do I feel about Grace? The pit in my stomach watching the security footage of her escaping and those hours of her being out in the real world filled me with such dread that I wasn’t thinking straight. All my thoughts centered on finding her and protecting her at all costs. As long as she is with me, she is safe.
Does she have a say in the matter?Guessing not by the way I dragged her out of that gas station against her will with a gun in her face. Another fist thump against the shower’s tiles.You know if the choice was hers, she wouldn’t choose you.Facts.How are you any different from Dmitri and his obsession with Grace?My stomach rolls at the thought that Dmitri and I would have anything in common. I pride myself on being better than Dmitri, but I’m not, I’m just a different version of the same fucked up thing.You know what you need to do.My conscious is right. Who knew I had one? I shut the water off and step out of the shower, wrapping my towel around my waist.
“Maxim!” Grace screams.
I rush out of the bathroom and through our shared door which thankfully is still unlocked.
Grace is thrashing about in her bed. “Don’t kill me, please don’t kill
me,” she pleads.
My stomach revolts knowing I’m the reason for her nightmare. “Grace, wake up! It’s a nightmare.”
“No. Leave me alone, you’re the bad guy! Please, don’t hurt me,” she screams, pushing me away.
I’m probably the last person she wants to see in her bedroom right now. “Grace, wake up. You’re safe,” I whisper to her.
“Max?” she says, sitting up, those jade-green eyes wide as she blinks at me.
“You were having a bad dream.”
“I know,” she grumbles as she wraps her arms around her body, hugging herself. Her eyes land on my bare chest, the water droplets from my shower still stuck to my skin. I’m in nothing but a white towel. “I’m okay now. You can leave.”
